Sid
02-08-2009, 09:53 AM
This is a lay Catholic Internet Apologists interpretation of Acts 17:11. . .
The "Bereans" in this case were the Rabbis in the synagogue. That's who held custody of the Scriptures and who taught the Jews. They were the authorized teachers of their day, as Jesus recognized:1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you[.] Matt. 23:1-2
Paul was claiming the Scripturs foretold Jesus's death and resurrection. On that, the Rabbis could check the Scriptures to verify that claim.
As to other matters that Paul was teaching (e.g., that circumcision was then not required, that eating pork was now licit, etc), the Bereans would have had to accept on the authority of the Church (which had earlier decided such things at the Council of Jerusalem).
I have always looked at the Berean episode as Paul commending the use of Scriptures to measure his teachings.
. . . this interpretation turns that on it's head.
The "Bereans" in this case were the Rabbis in the synagogue. That's who held custody of the Scriptures and who taught the Jews. They were the authorized teachers of their day, as Jesus recognized:1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you[.] Matt. 23:1-2
Paul was claiming the Scripturs foretold Jesus's death and resurrection. On that, the Rabbis could check the Scriptures to verify that claim.
As to other matters that Paul was teaching (e.g., that circumcision was then not required, that eating pork was now licit, etc), the Bereans would have had to accept on the authority of the Church (which had earlier decided such things at the Council of Jerusalem).
I have always looked at the Berean episode as Paul commending the use of Scriptures to measure his teachings.
. . . this interpretation turns that on it's head.